Welcome to the website of Staffordshire Moorlands Liberal Democrats

Staffordshire Moorlands is the most northerly and most attractive constituency in the West Midlands. It is formed by the majority of wards of Staffordshire Moorlands District, as well as the Newchapel ward of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough.

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.

A hard Brexit will damage this thriving and flourishing industry. A recent study from the Creative Industries Federation (CIF) fears that restriction of freedom of movement may deter high-quality talent, hurting the UK economy overall. Additionally, the British Retail Consortium have estimated that around 10,200 EU nationals were employed in UK retail, with the UK Fashion and Textile Association stating that 70% of all London fashion factory workers are from the EU. Towards the end of last year, a survey revealed that 56% of all EU retail workers are worried about their ability to reside in the UK in the future.

In interviews with The Sunday Times and Andrew Marr, new Education Secretary Damian Hinds signalled he would encourage restrictions on pupils' rights to sex education.

In the former interview, he is reported to have acknowledged he was reversing the policy of his predecessor, Justine Greening.

Hinds also failed to commit to the reintroduction of maintenance grants for students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds as part of a review of the university system.

The sexual harassment and intimidation scandals - and the resulting need for the #metoo movement - and the shocking rise in homophobic and transphobic attacks are just some of the reasons why compulsory sex education is vital.

The new Education Secretary should be pushing for all children to have age-appropriate sex education, not trying to encourage the use of opt-outs that could result in young people struggling to understand the sexual rights of themselves and others.

1. Saving lives
The NHS provides some of the best emergency care in the world. Although the NHS winter crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on our health service, the NHS has, historically, maintained an impressive standard of emergency care. Last year an astounding 23.65 million of us attended A&E. This number increases each year. Over the last five years A&E departments have seen a 7.2% rise in attendance. Yet despite this enormous pressure, A&E staff display tireless dedication during gruelling 12-hour shifts and regularly go above-and-beyond the call of duty.

1. Saving lives
The NHS provides some of the best emergency care in the world. Although the NHS winter crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on our health service, the NHS has, historically, maintained an impressive standard of emergency care. Last year an astounding 23.65 million of us attended A&E. This number increases each year. Over the last five years A&E departments have seen a 7.2% rise in attendance. Yet despite this enormous pressure, A&E staff display tireless dedication during gruelling 12-hour shifts and regularly go above-and-beyond the call of duty.

They do not want job cuts triggered by tougher trading conditions with our largest export market or life-threatening uncertainty at the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Boris's antipathy towards the common rules and standards which apply within the EU, and to trade within the EU, is in stark contrast to Brexiters head-long rush to adopt common standards with the US which would require the UK to accept chlorine-washed chicken, hormone-fed beef, GMO products and potentially open up the NHS to US private health companies.

If Boris is seeking to establish himself as the standard bearer of liberalism, he should dump plans to come out of the Single Market and Customs Union and campaign to stay in the world's largest free trade area.